The Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER) at the University of Essex wishes to appoint a talented and ambitious quantitative social science researcher to work with Prof. Susan Harkness (ISER) on a NORFACE funded project “EQUALLIVES: Inequality, early adult life courses and economic outcomes at mid-life in comparative context.”

The project is part of the NORFACE funded Dynamics of Inequality Across the Life-cycle (DIAL) research program. You will work closely with project partners at WZB/Humboldt (Berlin); University of Copenhagen; University of Turku and Amsterdam University. You will be expected to travel to the partner countries for project meetings on a regular basis and to be involved in dissemination of the research findings at international conferences and workshops. More details of the NORFACE funded projects are available at https://www.norface.net/2017/07/03/18-million-euro-for-transnational-research-on-inequality-across-the-life-course/.

Role and Duties

The post provides an exciting opportunity to be involved in a comparative research project with partners across five EU countries. The position will be based at ISER, home to the ESRC funded research centre for Micro-social Change (https://www.iser.essex.ac.uk/misoc/) and Understanding Society (www.understandingsociety.ac.uk).

You will be responsible for working along with the international project team in all aspects of the project: reviewing the relevant research literature, collating and documenting data on policies and institutions, analyzing BHPS/UKHLS data, preparing academic papers for publication and disseminating research findings at scientific conferences as well as to policy makers / knowledge exchange.

As this is an international collaborative research project a willingness to travel to partner countries, and to disseminate the research findings more widely at international conferences, is essential. As ISER is the lead institution for this project, you will play a key role in liaising with the other project teams to ensure the smooth running of the project. You will also be expected to participate, like all ISER staff members, in various institute-level activities appropriate to seniority and perform any other such duties as may be assigned from time to time by the project PI.

Qualification and Skills

Candidates should have a PhD in a relevant social science discipline (sociology, demography, economics, social sciences) or equivalent experience in a relevant policy research area.

In addition, experience in the analysis of complex survey data, experience in the use of longitudinal survey data or demonstrable capacity to use such data, and a track record of publication in a substantive area of relevance to ISER are essential. An interest in international comparative research and an awareness of policy relevant issues are both desirable but not essential for this post.

The post is fixed-term, full-time until 31/01/2021 due to uncertainty about funding in the foreseeable future.

Please use the ‘Apply’ button below to read further information about this role including the full job description and person specification which outlines the full duties, skills, qualifications and experience needed for this role. You will also find details of how to make your application here.

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